Iodinated contrast media induced oxidative stress status in patients undergoing urography

The present investigation is an extension of our earlier work on oxidative stress in a number of clinical situations and awareness of potential toxicity of contrast media. It was of interest to understand the relative safety (in terms of balance between oxidants/antioxidants) of the usage of iodinated contrast media in urography.

Alterations in serum levels of oxidant lipid peroxidation and product malondialdehyde (MDA) and components of anti-oxidant have been studied in 125 patients (with renal calculus disease) to undergo intravenous urographic procedure before and 3 hours following intravenous administration of Trivideo-400 (Iothalmate Sodium 40 ml: 18 gm Iodine) and results of serum levels of MDA (nmol/ml), SOD (mu/ml), Vit-C and Vit-E (mg/dl) were also compared with 135 appropriately age matched controls.

The salient features of present investigation indicated definite pattern viz. Significant rise in serum levels of oxidant MDA (4.35 +/- 2.05) and fall in SOD (3.04 +/- 1.04), Vit-C (0.55 +/- 0.17), Vit-E (0.67 +/- 0.20) in patients at pre-IVU stage in comparison with those of controls viz MDA (4.35 +/- 2.05), SOD (3.77 +/- 1.55), Vit-C (0.71 +/- 0.25) and Vit-E (0.80 +/- 0.30). There occurred further elevation in serum levels of MDA (5.28 +/- 2.48) and fall in SOD (3.07 +/- 0.97), Vit-C (0.52 +/- 0.16), Vit-E (0.66 +/- 0.19) showing no significant alterations 3 hours following intravenous IVU procedure.

It is concluded that contrast media induced changes did remain within tolerable physiological limits and no significant changes in anti-oxidant components Vit-E and SOD were suggestive of relative safety of iodinated contrast media usage.